Portable rug dyeing machine and method

ABSTRACT

THE PRESENT APPLICATION DISCLOSES A MACHNE HAVING A BOILER UNIT INCLUDING A TANK FOR HOLDING HOT DYE OR CLEANING SOLUTION MOUNTED ON A PORTABLE WHEELED BASE. METHOD AND MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR DRAWING OFF STEAM AND HOT TREATING SOLUTION FROM THE TANK, MIXING THE STEAM AND SOLUTION UNDER PRESSURE AND CONDUCTING THE MIXTURE UNDER PRESSURE TO A REMOTE HAND OPERATED APPLICATOR EQUIPPED WITH A SPRAY NOZZLE AND A VACUUM CHAMBER. THE APPLICATOR IS MOVED OVER THE SURFACE TO BE DYED OR CLEANED, SPRAYING SOLUTION INTO THE FABRIC AND SUBJECTING THE SPRAYED FABRIC TO A VACUUM TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE WETTING THEREOF. THE FOREGOING PROCEDURE CAN BE USED WITH A CLEANING SOLUTION IN THE BOILER UNIT FOR CLEANING THE FABRIC. THE CLEANING SOLUTION CAN THEN BE REPLACED WITH A DYE SOLUTION AND THE PROCEDURE REPEATED.

Aug. 1, 1972 J THOMPSON ETAL 3,681,006

PORTABLE BUG DYEING MACHINE AND METHOD I Original Filed Feb. ll, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 John A. Thompson and William H. Wisdom,

Inventors by BUCKHORN, BLORE, KIAkQUIS'F AND SPARKNAN A'm'omucvs;

Aug. 1, 1972 J A THQMPSQN ETAL 3,681,006

PORTABLE RUG DYEING MACHINE AND METHOD Original Filed Feb. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I04 IO 06 HO L John A. Thompson and William H. Wisdom,

Inventors Buckhorn, Blots,

Klarquinc and SPll'kIlll Attorney;

United States Patent U.S. Cl. 8-1491 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present application discloses a machine having a boiler unit including a tank for holding hot dye or cleaning solution mounted on a portable wheeled base. Method and means are provided for drawing off steam and hot treating solution from the tank, mixing the steam and solution under pressure and conducting the mixture under pressure to a remote hand operated applicator equipped with a spray nozzle and a vacuum chamber. The applicator is moved over the surface to be dyed or cleaned, spraying solution into the fabric and subjecting the sprayed fabric to a vacuum to prevent excessive wetting thereof. The foregoing procedure can be used with a cleaning solution in the boiler unit for cleaning the fabric. The cleaning solution can then be replaced with a dye solution and the procedure repeated.

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a division of a U.S. application Ser. No. 723,325, filed Mar. 29, 1968 which latter application, now abandoned is a continuation of a parent application Ser. No. 344,085, filed Feb. 11, 1964, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for dyeing fabrics and more particularly to a portable rug and upholstery dyeing machine and to a method of dyeing rugs and upholstery while the same are in place.

Heretofore in dyeing rugs it has been necessary to take up the rug from the floor and transport it to a special plant where the rug is cleaned, dipped in a hot dye bath and then thoroughly dried. Similarly in dyeing upholstery, the fabric must usually be removed from the piece of furniture, dry cleaned, and then dipped in dye solution. Naturally these are very painstaking, time consuming and therefore expensive operations, and subject the owner to much inconvenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a portable machine for dyeing rugs upholstery and other fabrics while the same are in place in their normal, useful environment.

The invention also provides an improved hand-operated dye applicator which sprays a dye solution into a fabric, and subjects the fabric being sprayed to a vacuum.

As well the invention provides a portable rug and upholstery dyeing machine which can be utilized to clean the fabric prior to application of the dye.

Further the invention is to provide a portable rug and upholstery dyeing machine, including a spray and vacuum applicator in which temperature pressure and concentration of the dye can be regulated according to the nature of the fabric being dyed.

The machine includes a boiler unit including a tank for holding hot dye and cleaning solution mounted on a ice portable, wheeled base. Means are provided for drawing off steam and hot solution from the tank and conducting it under pressure to a remote, hand operated applicator equipped with a spray nozzle and a vacuum chamber. The applicator is moved over the surface to be dyed, spraying solution into the fabric and subjecting the sprayed fabric to a vacuum. The foregoing procedure is used first, with a cleaning solution in the boiler unit for cleaning the fabric to be dyed. The cleaning solution is then replaced with a dye solution and the procedure is repeated. Alternatively the machine can be used for cleaning alone.

Hereinafter and in the claims treating is used generically to include cleaning or dyeing, and similarly treating solution can be a dye solution or a cleaning solution.

A detail description which follows gives exemplification of the invention which, however, can be expressed in apparatus and method other than that particularly described.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view partly in section through the machine of FIG. 1 with the housing removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dye applicator portion of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the applicator of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the applicator.

With reference first to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the illustrated rug dyeing machine 10 includes a stainless steel, upright housing 12 mounted on a tubular support or base 14 provided with a pair of casters 16 at the front end thereof and an upwardly curved tubular handle portion 18 at the opposite end thereof for propelling the machine. A pair of rubber-tipped tubular legs 20 extend downwardly from the rear end of the frame 14 a greater distance than the casters 16 extend downwardly from the front end of the frame, whereby the entire frame and housing is inclined from the horizontal in a direction from the wheeled front end toward the rear handle end thereof in order to enhance the operation of the boiler unit within the housing.

A stainless steel, rectangular firebox 22 is mounted adjacent the rear end of the frame Within the housing 12. Within the firebox is mounted a tube-type boiler 24, including a pair of generally horizontally opposed cylin drical header boxes 26, A plurality of boiler tubes 28 extend in three horizontal rows from one header box 26 to the other.

A gas fired burner unit 30 is disposed within the firebox 22 beneath the boiler and is connected by a flexible conduit 32 to a remote butane or other suitable combustible gas source 34. A gas pressure control valve and gauge 35 is mounted at the handle end of the housing in the supply line between the burner 30 and gas source 34. A sheet metal exhaust hood 36 is mounted over a top opening 37 atop the firebox 22 and has an open exhaust end 38 which extends through an opening in the rear end of the housing 12. The lower, rear end of the housing and firebox are provided with aligned air intake and access openings 39.

A large hot water, or liquid, supply tank 40 is mounted over the hood 36 by means of four struts 42 which straddle the hood and are afiixed to the upper four corners of the firebox. The tank is provided with a first bottom opening 44 from which a downcomer pipe 46 extends downwardly into a lower endwall portion of the forward header box 26. A riser pipe 48 extends downwardly from a second bottom opening 50 in the tank 40 to a top opening in the rear header box 26. Thus, as the boiler is heated, water circulates from the tank 40 down through the downcomer 46, into the front header box 26, through the boiler tubes 28, and upwardly from the rear header box 26, through the riser 48 and back into the tank 40 due to the rearward inclination of the boiler components.

A liquid filler opening 52 and cap therefor are provided at the top of the tank and suitable drain openings 54 are provided in the bottom of each header box. A drain pipe 56 leads from the drain openings and projects through the front end wall of the housing 12. Steam pressure control means 55, including a gauge, is mounted on a sidewall of the housing. For added safety, a steam relief valve 57 designed to blow off under a steam pressure of 50 p.s.i. is provided at another opening in the top of the tank. A water glass, or liquid level indicator 58, is mounted on the forward end wall of the housing and is connected at its upper and lower ends by suitable conduit to an upper opening 59 in the front end wall of the tank and a lateral opening 60 in the downcomer respectively.

The top of the tank is also provided with flanged steam and hot liquid drawoif openings 61 and 62 respectively, over which suitable ball control valves 64 and 66 are mounted. A liquid drawoff tube 67 is connected at its upper end to the liquid control valve 66 and extends downwardly into the interior of the tank, through the opening 62, terminating near the bottom of the tank. Two short lengths of conduit or hose 68 and 69, one from the steam control valve 64 and the other from the liquid control valve 66, meet at a Y coupling 70. A much longer, flexible hose 72 extends from the Y coupling 70 to a remote liquid spray applicator 74.

The boiler is also provided with superheating means by which dry, superheated steam may be drawn from the machine for steam drying fabrics following either detergent cleaning or a dye spraying operation. Such means includes a steam drawoff tube 78 extending upwardly through an opening in the bottom of the tank 40 and terminating above the surface level of the liquid in the tank. The lower end of the tube 78 extends into the hood 36 and is coupled to a coiled length of metal tubing 80 disposed within the hood and terminating at an outer end 81 beyond the front wall of the housing 12. The outer end of the tubing 80 is provided with a suitable shutoff valve and coupling means (not shown) for coupling a length of flexible hose thereto.

Now with particular reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the applicator 74 includes a tubular stem portion 84 having suitable coupling means 86 at one end thereof for attachment of a flexible vacuum conduit 88 loading from a vacuum source 90 (FIG. 1). Mounted at the opposite end of the stem 84 is a transversely extending, elongated head portion 92 which has a hollow interior enclosed by front and rear walls 94 and 96 respectively, opposite end walls 98 and a top wall 100. The flat bottom of the head is open, that is, provided With a large mouth 101. A bafile 102 is disposed within the mouth 101 transversely of the stem 84 and extends from one end wall 98 to the other thereof so as to partition the interior of the head into two chambers, a front vacuum chamber 104 in communication with the interior of the, stem 84 and a rear spray chamber 106. The lower edge surface of the baflle 102 is provided with notches 103 at intervals to minimize the gripping power of the vacuum chamber when adjacent a rug or other surface and to prevent excessive penetration of the treating solutions into the fabric being treated.

A right angle spray nozzle 108 is mounted in the rear end wall 96 within the spray chamber so as to direct a liquid spray uniformly outwardly of the bottom end opening 101. The spray nozzle 108 includes a suitable coupling 110 at the exterior face of the rear wall 96 to which is attached one end of a short length of flexible tubing or conduit 112. The opposite end of the tubing 112 is coupled to the outlet end of a shutolf valve 114 mounted on the upper portion of the stem 84. A lever '4 type handle 115 is provided on the valve so that the valve may be conveniently controlled by hand pressure. The long length of flexible hose 72 leading from the steam and hot liquid drawolf openings of the dye machine is coupled to the inlet end of the valve 114.

The illustrated form of applicator 74 is a hand model especially adapted for treating upholstery. However, it will be appreciated that a floor model of the same applicator for rugs will be of the same general construction and arrangement except for having a slightly larger head and a longer stem, which also serves as a handle.

In order to dye a fabric, for example upholstery, the tank 40 is filled with a detergent solution which is preferably nonionic in nature to prevent subsequent acidic or basic problems with the dye solution used. The detergent solution is then brought to a boil at from to 40 pounds steam pressure. The hot detergent solution is then sprayed with the applicator into the fabric to be dyed, as the applicator is moved over the fabric surface, and at the same time the vacuum is applied continuously to prevent excessive wetting of the upholstery and to remove dirt drawn up from the upholstery by the detergent.

Immediately following cleaning, and without necessarily drying the fabric, the dyeing operation can commence. First, however, the detergent solution must be drained from the tank and boiler system and replaced with a liquid dye solution. The dye solution is heated to boiling and applied at a steam pressure in the tank of preferably from about 20 to 40 p.s.i. The hot liquid dye solution is sprayed into the fabric through the applicator nozzle and again the vacuum is applied continuously throughout the dye spraying operation in order to prevent excessive wetting of the fabric. The concentration and pressure at which the dye is sprayed is controlled 'by varying the relative amounts of steam and hot dye solution entering the hose 70 at the Y juncture 69 by means of the ball valves 64 and 66. Of course, the temperature of the dye solution as it is applied to the fabric will vary depending upon the steam pressure in the tank. The desired temperature will vary somewhat according to the dye and fabric being dyed, 'but as a general rule the dye solution should exceed a temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit as it is applied to the fabric in order for the dye to set properly and permanently in most fabrics.

If desired, or found necessary, the superheated dry steam may be used to dry the fabric following either the cleaning or dyeing operation. The dry steam can also be used, if desired, to dry the fabric following the preliminary cleaning operation.

METHOD Introduction When a hot aqueous solution, containing for instance a dye, is discharged through a nozzle at a temperature higher than its boiling point at atmospheric pressure, much of the water content flashes to steam. The steam itself does not have material dye content as the dye does not pass over with the steam but remains, probably as minute drops of dye concentrate.

The steam quickly changes to water vapor, and the water vapor when formed can absorb the dye concentrate. Thus dye containing water vapor mist, or small drops, impinges the fabric and penetrates its nap. As well, some of the solution may atomize, and any atomized dye contaming solution would impinge, and penetrate, the fabric without change of state.

When the steam valve 64 is closed as indicated in FIG. 1 in broken outline at 64.1, with the liquid control valve 66 open, the spray discharge is as aboverepresenting one mode.

With both valves open steam and solution, both under pressure, are mixed in the Y 70, so that a mixture, constituents of which are steam and hot solution, is discharged from the nozzle 108, FIGS. 4 and 5.

The solution constituent acts as above described with respect to change of state to steam and production of dye concentrate, with a following change of state to water vapor. The steam constituent is however discharged as steam, which changes state to Water vapor. The water vapor from the steam discharge thus forms-or starts to form-substantially concurrently with the formation of the dye concentrate. Hence, nuclei of the steam discharge water vapor are available to accept the dye concentrate as it forms, the steam discharge water vapor being one step ahead of the water vapor from the solution steam.

This is a second mode and is preferred in dyeing since, in addition to earlier concentrate absorption as above, the steam content itself aids penetration. Commercially acceptable results are however obtained, both in cleaning and dyeing, using the first mode above.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the explanations above are incomplete and simplified. They are given primarily to distinguish the two modes, and as an aid to understanding method concepts of the invention.

Exemplification of method of treating A method of treating, i.e. cleaning or dyeing, materials such as for example rugs and upholstry, includes concurrent operations below, the exemplification showing how each operation is expressed in the apparatus.

Discharging a spray of heated aqueous solution under pressure directed to impinge the fabric; with the apparatus illustrated discharge is through the applicator nozzle 108, FIGS. 4 and 5, with heating and pressure obtained in the boiler, FIGS. 1 and 2.

Confining the discharge; confinement is Within the applicator spray chamber 106, FIGS. 4 and 5, with the mouth 101 in contact with the fabric.

Maintaining a vacuum space; the vacuum is maintained in the applicator vacuum chamber 104, the mouth 101 being also a vacuum chamber mouth and being in contact with the fabric as aforesaid.

Eifecting relative motion between the spray and the surface; this is done by moving the applicator as earlier described.

These time concurrent operations result in an incremental strip being sprayed, and immediately thereafter being exposed to the vacuum. The immediate exposure to vacuum prevents excess wetting as explained, and reduces drying time. In cleaning, soil dislodged by the discharge is sucked out, together with excess moisture, by the vacuum. In dyeing, the excess moisture sucked up has a dye content while (much of) the dye penetrating the nap remains, effecting dyeing.

The above operations refer particularly to the first mode above. In the second mode, the method is as above with an additional operation of mixing steam with the solution prior to discharge. The mixing is effected in the Y 70. FIG. 1, as has been explained in detail.

Exemplification of method of producing the constituents The invention herein is directed to apparatus to effect the foregoing, and to a method of producing a steam constituent and a treating constituent. An example of the method follows:

Example I Prepare an aqueous solution of a suitable treating constituent.

Heat the solution in a confined space to boiling at (up to) forty pounds so producing a steam constituent and a separate treating constituent, the treating constituent being the solution, now heated as above, which is separate from the steam. Mix the constituents, namely the steam and the heated solution under pressure producing a mixture having a quantity of each constituent.

Direct the mixture under pressure to impinge the surface of the fabric.

It is seen that the apparatus described and illustrated expresses the method above which, however, is capable of expression by means of apparatus other than that described and illustrated.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of treating rugs, upholstery and other fabrics having a permeable surface, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) preparing a treating solution;

(b) heating the solution to boiling point in a confined space until up to forty pounds per square inch pressure is obtained, the heating producing a liquid treating constituent in the lower portion and a steam constituent in the upper portion of the confined space;

(c) discharging the liquid treating constituent under pressure from the lower portion of the confined space;

((1) simultaneously but separately discharging the steam constituent under pressure from the upper portion of the confined space;

(e) mixing the separately discharged liquid treating constituent and the steam constituent together under pressure at a point outside of the confined space so as to produce a mixture containing a quantity of each constituent; and

(f) discharging the mixture under pressure to impinge the surface of the fabric.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the quantity of at least one of the constituents of the mixture is controlled prior to mixing so as to control concentration of the mixture being sprayed.

3. A method according to claim 2, which is further characterized in that the solution is aqueous, and in which the separate treating constituent contains a detergent.

4. A method according to claim 2, which is further characterized in that the solution is aqueous, and in which the separate treating constituent contains a dye.

5. A method according to claim 4, the mixture being sprayed having a temperature sufficient to set the dye in the fabric.

6. A method according to claim 1, the mixture being sprayed having a temperature of at least 212 F.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,238,400 4/1941 Scott 8-l49.3 X 2,574,731 11/1951 Dapprich 685 R X WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

